The White House vs Catholicism

Barack Obama has come under a barrage of criticism from religious organisations over a new requirement that Catholic-run schools and hospitals provide free contraception to workers. As you might imagine, the republicans have also leapt upon this issue and are attempting to mint some political coin out of it by claiming he is “hostile to … Read more

Ellen DeGeneres Responds To Anti-Gay “One Million Moms” Group

Last week, a Christian group called One Million Moms called on JC Penney to fire new spokesperson Ellen DeGeneres because she’s gay. JC Penney then released a statement saying it stands by DeGeneres. Now, in a clip that will air on her show Wednesday 8th Feb, DeGeneres gives her direct reply … If you liked that, then you might like to … Read more

Seeing visions: Science’s annual visual challenge – in pictures

Each year, Science Magazine and the National Science Foundation host the International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge.  They have now announced the winners of its 2011 International Science & Engineering Visual Challenge.  Here now are two of the truly inspiring and amazing entries. Yep, my pick, you might and probably would make a different selection, … Read more

UK TV Alert: “How to Grow a Planet”

This looks like a real gem, its on tonight on BBC 2 at 8pm … (sorry non UK folks, but hopefully you will get access at some point, so it will be worth watching out for) Its a 3 part series by Professor Iain Stewart, in which the BBC description reads … In this first … Read more

Daft Claim of the Week: “Christians not free to say ‘God heals’ have no religious freedom in UK”

In Today’s UK telegraph, Brendan O’Neill rants about a bunch of Christians being told to not make outrageous fraudulent claims, because doing so infringes upon their religious freedom. We have a special scientific word that accurately describes that stance, and that word is “Bullshit” …let me explain and fill you in on all the details. An organization in Bath … Read more

Top five regrets of the dying

The UK’s Guardian has a story that claims to list the “Top five regrets of the dying“. The background is that Bronnie Ware, a palliative nurse based in Australia who counselled the dying in their last days, has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. OK, I know you are … Read more